(VNA - 13/07/2011) - Minister of National Defence General Phung Quang Thanh received the ambassadors of Laos and Malaysia , who came to bid farewell to him before concluding their terms of office, in Hanoi on July 13.

At the separate receptions for Lao Ambassador Sunthone Sayachak, Minister Thanh expressed thanks for her valuable contributions to developing the special relationship between the two countries.

He said that the Vietnamese and Lao armies and people stood side by side in their struggle for national independence in the past. Therefore, the two countries’ present and future generations should respect, preserve and promote that special relationship.

In past years, the defence cooperation between the two countries had been continuously strengthened in all fields, Thanh said, adding that the Vietnamese Defence Ministry is ready to train Lao students in Vietnam .

He expressed his wish that Ambassador Sunthone Sayachak, in her new position, will continue making contributions to bringing the Vietnam-Laos special relationship to a new level of development.

While receiving Malaysian Ambassador Dato Lim Kim Eng, Minister Thanh spoke highly of the ambassador’s contributions to fostering the multifaceted ties between the two countries, including defence ties.

He said that recently, the two countries’ armies have strengthened exchanges of high-ranking visits, signed a memorandum of understanding on bilateral defence cooperation and implemented cooperation in training.

The minister suggested that the two sides continued to boost cooperation between their naval forces and hold joint patrols in the East Sea, helping maintain a peaceful environment in the region and create conditions for the two countries’ fishermen to exploit aquatic resources in territorial waters their respective./.